Knights lift to snatch tie

Northern Knights scored 13 to earn an unlikely tie against Otago in a roller coaster of a match at Cobham Oval.
Former Otago bowler Bradley Scott was called on to face the last three deliveries and score seven runs against his old side at No9. He managed three twos with a piece of luck when he was dropped by Nick Beard on the square leg boundary.
"Bradley has been in that position a few times for us this year and batted pretty well in a tight situation but the chase was started further up the innings by Brad [Wilson] and BJ [Watling], who gave us a good platform to work with," skipper James Marshall said.
Kane Williamson, back in the Black Caps for tomorrow's third one-dayer against Pakistan, proved his value to John Wright by scoring 87 not out, off 84 balls, to anchor the innings. Marshall (64) and Brad Wilson (55) were the other main contributors to the chase.
Wilson and Watling got the innings off to a good start before Watling lobbed a catch to Redmond at mid-off on 37. Wilson went on to get his 50 off 64 balls including six fours before departing bowled by Nick Beard. Marshall joined Williamson at the crease and quickly sent a big six over the boundary to keep the run rate ticking over.
The asking run rate continued to climb throughout the Knights' innings. With 15 overs to go it was creeping up toward eight runs an over. But with wickets in hand, the Knights never lost sight of their goal.
"Even 20 off two overs is definitely gettable - it was a good chase but it fell short in terms of winning but we'll take a tie," Marshall said.
Ian Butler, who was the pick of Otago's bowlers, returned to the crease to bowl the 41st over and picked up Marshall for 64 in the 43rd over - a wicket that caused a mini-collapse.
McGlashan replaced him but tried to hit a six over long-on and only succeeded in picking out Neil Broome, to swing the match further back toward Otago. Anton Devcich also went cheaply with Joey Yovich following him back to the pavilion the next ball. Good fielding on the boundary saw Aldridge run out for one which brought Scott to the wicket to finish the job.
Butler and part-timer Craig Cumming were the pick of the Otago bowlers, with Beard proving dangerous in the final few overs to put the chase in jeopardy
A great century by Broome led the way in a very good batting performance by the visitors. Batting at No3, Broome brought up his century at a good clip in 106 balls and then went on to score 123 in 119 balls before being finally dismissed caught behind by McGlashan off the bowling of Brent Arnel.
He rode his luck at times during his innings, but his aggressive knock allowed Otago to score at around 5.48 per over to reach 274/5.
Broome and English professional Darren Stevens scored the best partnership of the innings, compiling 125 for the fourth wicket.
The Knights did their best to peg the scoring back, when the partnership was broken, and they did well to keep Otago from reaching 300.
But the lack of pace or bounce in the wicket meant it was tough going for the bowlers.
In other matches yesterday, former international Peter Fulton signalled a timely return to batting form as Canterbury all but ended Wellington's one-day cricket campaign at the Basin Reserve.
Fulton was denied his second century of the season but his stylish 93 still set the foundation for Canterbury's commanding 125-run victory.
Once Wellington launched their pursuit of Canterbury's 265 for six it was soon apparent another close result was not on the cards.
Opening bowlers Richard Sherlock and Australian import Mitchell Claydon soon had bottom-placed Wellington staring into the abyss at 17 for three inside five overs.
The hosts were eventually routed for 140 in the 36th over, providing Canterbury with the bonus point that propelled them to top spot with two rounds remaining.
At Pukekura Park in New Plymouth, Auckland had reached 45 for the loss of one wicket in their match against Central Districts when the game was abandoned due to rain.
Hamish Marshall is returning to New Zealand for his wedding in mid February and will join the Northern Knights.
Marshall, who now plays for Gloucestershire, will join the Knights for round five of the Plunket Shied, meaning he will play the last six matches.